Latest News
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Ukranian Charity Cossack Event
Thu 09 Nov 2023Are you looking for a fun event to add to your Autumn calendar? The Ukrainian community in Stroud is currently organizing a charity fundraising event, and would greatly appreciate your help by coming to a Cossacks' Day.
The main goal is to showcase Ukrainian culture and raise funds for medical supplies to help injured military personnel and civilians who often can't receive prompt medical attention.
What's on offer? Taste delicious Ukrainian meals and drinks, explore unique crafts, take part in entertaining Cossack games, and enjoy live Ukrainian music featuring the piano and traditional bandura instrument. Don't miss an exciting raffle with fantastic prizes!
Adults - £12,
Children - (9-16) £4
Under 9s FREEDate: Sun, Nov 19, 2023
Time: 14:00 GMT
Location: Tabernacle Walk, Stroud, GL5 3UJTo book, please visit: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cossacks-day-charity-event-tickets-749815778177?aff=oddtdtcreator
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Anti-bullying Week- Odd Socks Day on Monday 13 November
Wed 08 Nov 2023Anti-bullying Week- Odd Socks Day
Next week (13-17 November) is Anti-Bullying Week. To celebrate that we are all unique, we ask that children wear odd socks to school on Monday 13th November - the more colourful and odd the better! This will be the start of a week of activities in school to promote kindness and to help prevent bullying.
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New Absence Reporting App for Parents - Study Bugs
Sat 21 Oct 2023We’re pleased to announce that the Rosary School is introducing a new, more efficient and secure system for reporting your child’s absence due to illness. It is called Studybugs and we would like all parents to use this app from November (after half term), if possible, please. You can get the app or register now using https://studybugs.com/about/parents
Here are the top 3 reasons to use Studybugs:
1. It’s integrated with our systems so we know right away if your child is unaccounted for- there is no need to call the school office, if you have used the Studybugs app.
2. It’s quick and easy to register and use and automatically reminds you to keep us posted.
3. You’ll be helping the NHS and other public health organisations improve children’s health. (https://studybugs.com/about/schools)
Please get the free Studybugs app, or register on the Studybugs website, and use it to tell us whenever your child is ill and unable to attend school. If you have any difficulty downloading the Studybugs app, please call the school office on (01453) 762774. You can also speak to Mrs Knighton, Mrs Matarazzo or Mrs Savory in the lane, or email Mrs Matarazzo using hmatarazzo@rosary.gloucs.sch.uk
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Gardening Club Market Sale
Fri 14 Jul 2023Well done to Mrs Hill, Mrs Humphery and the 4 children from Gardening Club who all went to Stroud Shambles Market on Friday 14 July to sell produce they had grown in school. The Rosary School's stall raised £111 for The Long Table.
Here is an article in the Stroud Times
Budding gardeners provide a boost for The Long Table | Stroud Times
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Letter from Chair of Governors regarding changes to school leadership from September 2023
Fri 24 Mar 2023Dear Parents,
Following conversations with the school’s senior leadership the governors have made a decision regarding the leadership of the school. From September 2023, for an interim period of no longer than two years, Mrs Savory and Mrs Knighton will work as co-heads of the school. Mrs Savory will work part-time during this period.
Mrs Savory has expressed in writing her wish to leave her full-time post; she has also offered to continue in a part-time role, an offer which the governors have accepted. The governors have made their decision to ensure stability and continuity at the Rosary School.
Because this is an interim arrangement, there is no need for the school to advertise a vacancy. However, governors are very keen to build on the expertise and ambitions of its staff and are offering formal interviews between all members of the teaching staff and members of the ‘headteacher’s recruitment panel’ (which comprises three governors) so that the governors can know and understand not only the skills of the teaching staff at the school but also their ambitions and aspirations. Governors will consider the outcome of these discussions in any permanent decisions made about future leadership in the school, when that time comes. I should add that because Mrs Knighton is absent on maternity leave at the moment, Mr Bradley, who is an experienced school leader, will be supporting Mrs Savory as a Deputy Head for the summer term.
The governors will also, very shortly, be making a decision about the school’s joining the diocesan Multi-academy Trust (MAT). It is clear that the bishop wants us to join and that governors are obliged to follow his lead unless there is a very good reason not to do so. A number of our anxieties appear to have been addressed recently and in positive ways. The bishop is adamant that any move to our being in the MAT will not, of itself, lead to any redundancies. We have been assured that the new ‘chief executive officer’ will not simply be a ‘super head’ on a high salary with vague responsibilities. Some of the responsibilities which the CEO will discharge will certainly help us at the Rosary. We have been assured that our financial reserves will not be taken from us upon our joining, and the diocesan team has agreed that the MAT should be able to provide specialist intervention, such as therapists and educational psychologists, more efficiently (though this will not happen at once). The move to a MAT will not now happen, I understand, before 2024.
Therefore, the governors do not think that at this time of change it is wise to advertise for a new, permanent headteacher. This will be kept under review and once a final decision concerning the MAT has been made, and the role of the headteacher in any new structure clarified, we will move forward with recruitment.
Governors have been briefed in confidence by the inspector on the contents of the report following the recent inspection and we will be able to share our thoughts about this when the report is officially published; we are not allowed to do so beforehand.
Thank you for your support of Rosary School. The governors will be working with the school’s senior leadership, so that parents’ views are accommodated as the school moves forward.
Yours,
Philip Rush
Mr Philip Rush
Chair of Governors
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Non-uniform Day -Thursday 16 February in aid of CAFOD Turley-Syria Earthquake Appeal
Sun 12 Feb 2023Thursday 16 February will be a non-uniform day to support CAFOD's emergency appeal to provide support for victims of the earthquake in Turkey and Syria. Children are invited to wear their own clothes to school in return for a donation of £1 per child. You can find more information about the appeal using the link below. You may also like to use this link to donate a larger amount, which can be gift aided if you are a UK tax payer.
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School and community consultation regarding the formation of a Catholic Multi-Academy Trust and possible membership of the Rosary School in that Trust
Mon 09 Jan 2023You may recall from the governing body letter sent to our school community in the summer, that the Catholic Primary schools within Gloucestershire in the 'Little Way Partnership' were exploring the possibility of forming a multi-academy trust together.
During the Autumn Term we have continued to work together to further develop our thinking, including agreeing our vision for the Trust and our overall approach to ensuring we maintain both our Catholic identify and the high educational standards we enjoy across our schools — supporting each other to be the very best we can be. We also now have a clearer shared understanding of the current financial position for each of the schools, from which we can now start to work together to understand the implications of academy conversion and the opportunities and challenges that this might bring. As we continue to undertake this work into the Spring Term, we wanted to reach out to our community to ensure that your views help to shape the governing board’s response to the opportunity that this presents for us.
One of the first steps required by the Department of Education is that we consult with our community ahead of seeking consent from the Diocese and then the Department for Education to move forward with the proposal. Clearly there is a lot of work for each governing board and the shadow Board of Directors (when appointed in the New Year), to do before these schools make any final decision regarding conversion to academy status. If we are able to secure the necessary provisional approvals from the Diocese and the Department for Education later in the Spring Term, this would release some funding for the maintained schools within the partnership to undertake some of the due diligence and legal work which will form part of the conversion process. It would also mean that we could consider joining the multi-academy trust at the beginning of the new academic year (September 2023).
We therefore would like to invite you to respond to the questions in the questionnaire on the Newsletters page. If you would like this information in another language, large print, braille or audiotape, then please contact the office. The governing body will consider all the responses received before determining whether to go ahead and seek the necessary consents from the Diocese and Department for Education to move to the second stage of forming and joining the Trust. The very final decision regarding this move will take place only once all of the legal and due diligence processes have been completed and when the governors of the Rosary school vote in favour of the move.
In order to provide you with more information, there is a FAQ sheet also on the Newsletters page. We will update parents and carers via the website on the progress in forming the Little Way Catholic Educational Trust. We will also be inviting all members of our school, church and wider community to an online presentation at the school. The date for this will be confirmed soon.
Please can all completed questionnaires be returned to the school office no later than noon on Monday 6 February 2023. Electronic questionnaires can be emailed to head@rosary.gloucs.sch.uk
Mr P. Rush
Chair of Governors
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School open tomorrow from 9.00am
Mon 12 Dec 2022The school will be open tomorrow (Tuesday 13th December) from 9.00am. Please walk your children down to the blue gate, as the lane is still covered in snow and ice and will be slippery. Children should wear wellies or boots and bring a pair of shoes to change in to. They will be going on the field at break and lunchtime. The pavement from Tesco’s to Beeches Green and the lane going past the church are icy, so please take great care. If you feel it is not safe for you to bring your children to school, please contact the school office to let us know. The absence will be authorized if you do this.
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Emergency School Closure
Mon 12 Dec 2022Emergency School Closure
As we have had a significant snowfall and temperatures were below freezing overnight, it is not possible for staff and children to get to school safely. Parents have been notified by the school via School App message and a SeeSaw post. The school closure has also be reported on the GCC website, which can be found using this link:
https://closures.gloucestershire.gov.uk/
Take care and stay safe everyone!
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Scarlet Fever and Step A infection
Thu 08 Dec 2022What are scarlet fever and Strep A?
Scarlet fever is caused by bacteria called Group A streptococci (Strep A). The bacteria usually cause a mild infection that can be easily treated with antibiotics.
In very rare occasions, the bacteria can get into the bloodstream and cause an illness called invasive Group A strep (iGAS).
What are the symptoms of Strep A/scarlet fever?
Strep A infections can cause a range of symptoms that parents should be aware of, including:
- Sore throat
- Headache
- Fever
- A fine, pinkish or red body rash with a sandpapery feel
- On darker skin the rash can be more difficult to detect visually but will have a sandpapery feel
If a child becomes unwell with these symptoms, please contact your GP practice or contact NHS 111 (which operates a 24/7 service) to seek advice.
If a child has scarlet fever, please keep them at home until at least 24 hours after the start of antibiotic treatment to avoid spreading the infection to others.
Parents should trust their own judgement and if their child seems seriously unwell call 999 or go to A&E if:
- a child is having difficulty breathing – you may notice grunting noises or their tummy sucking under their ribs
- there are pauses when a child breathes
- a child’s skin, tongue or lips are blue
- a child is floppy and will not wake up or stay awake.